USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AS A STRATEGIC WEAPON: LESSONS FROM THE RED BARON

Organizations investing in information technology (IT) over the past decades have categorically seen the uses of IT change. At one point, IT was considered a key strategic tool to gain competitive advantage; however, today, acquiring basic IT functions is a necessity in order not to be at a competitive disadvantage. It takes advanced IT systems, coupled with good strategy to develop an IT competitive advantage. With good strategy and advanced IT systems, some organizations can use IT as a weapon to secure market share and/or eliminate the competition. We suggest in this article that there are strategic points of which organizations should be aware during the implementation and use of information technology. These lessons come from the strategic lesson plans of the ace aviation fighter pilot, the Red Baron.IT Strategy, Competitive advantage, Change, Aviation, Technology.

Electron-spin resonance studies of the titanium cation (Ti+,3d?, ?F) in rare gas matrices at 4 K: A crystal field interpretation

Journal ArticleElectron-spin resonance studies of laser-ablated titanium metal isolated in neon and argon display an intense feature which exhibits a symmetric, narrow line and a large matrix-dependent g shift. On the basis of a number of experiments, this is assigned to a matrix isolated 3d3,4F Ti+ ion in an octahedral matrix environment. Although the ground state of the gas-phase Ti1 ion is 3d24s1,4F, the assignment to the 3d3,4F state is supported by the small hyperfine structure which is observed. The neon magnetic parameters are: g=1.934(1) and A(47Ti)=64(1) MHz; for argon, g=1.972(1) and A=56(1) MHz. This unusual stabilization of an excited atomic state by a rare gas matrix is consistent with ab initio studies, and has been previously found for atomic nickel. A crystal-field study of the expected behavior of a d3,4F ion isolated in a tetrahedral, octahedral, or cuboctahedral environment supports the assignment to an octahedral Ti+(Rg)6 species, and using the atomic spin?orbit parameter, z permits accurate values of Dq to be derived from the measured g values. Finally, it is also noted that for small values of Dq/(Dq+5), or for a d3,4F ion in a tetrahedral environment, an as yet unobserved, unequal Zeeman splitting of the fourfold degeneracy occurs, causing a departure of the Zeeman energies from the standard formula of EZeeman=?eH0gM, with M=?3/2, ?1/2. For these situations it becomes necessary to define two values of g, corresponding to the more strongly ~g3/2! and less strongly ~g1/2! affected Zeeman levels, respectively

Laser vaporization generation of the SiB and SiAi radicals for matrix isolation electron spin resonance studies: comparison with theoretical calculations and assignment of their electronic ground states as X ??

Journal ArticleThe first experimental spectroscopic study of the SiB and SiAl diatomic radicals is reported. Electron spin resonance results indicate that both molecules have X 4? ground electronic states, in agreement with earlier theoretical calculations. The SIB and SiAl radicals were generated in neon matrices at 4 K by trapping the products produced from the pulsed laser vaporization of their alloys. Electronic structure information for these radicals is especially interesting given the utilization of silicon doped materials in semiconductor applications. The observedn uclear hyperfine interactions (A tensors) for 10B, 11B and 27A1l n these molecular radicals were compared with the results of ab initia configuration-interaction theoretical calculationswhich were conducted as part of this experimental study. The neon matrix magnetic parameters (MHz) for Si 11B are 0=800(2), gll =2.0014(8), g, =2.0005(4), A, =92.4(5), and A,, =111(2). For Si27A1 the results (MHz) are 0=9710(2), gll =1.9994(8), and gL = 1.9978(4), IAL [ =10.3(6), and [A,? [=43.5(g)

Electron spin resonance investigation of Sc?+ in neon matrices and assignment of its ground electronic state as X ???. comparison with theoretical calculations

Journal ArticleThe discandium radical cation, Sc+2 , has been isolated in neon matrices at 4 K and studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and theoretical methods. It was produced by the x-irradiation of neon matrix samples containing neutral ScZ which was formed by trapping the products generated from the pulsed laser vaporization of scandium metal. The experimental and theoretical findings indicate that Sc2+ has a 4?-g electronic ground state compared to an X5?-u; state for the neutral discandium radical. The large decrease in the 45Sch hyperfine interaction (A tensor) going from ScZ to SC? provides direct experimental information concerning the types of valence molecular orbitals that are involved in these diatomic radicals. The neon matrix magnetic parameters for 45Sc2+ are gll~ 2.00, gl =1.960(l), I+ ]=28(6), and IA, | =26.1(3) MHZ; the D value (zero field splitting) was 15 38 l(3) MHz. Ab initio configuration interaction (CI) calculations of the nuclear hyperfine interactions yielded results in reasonable agreement with the experimental observations

Laser vaporization generation of Y ??B+, Y ??B+, and YAI+ for electron spin resonance studies in neon matrices at 4 K: comparison with theoretical calculations

Journal ArticleThe first spectroscopic investigation of 89Y 10B+, 89Y 11B+, and 89Y 27Al+ is reported, revealing that both of these diatomic cation radicals have X 4?- electronic ground states. The ions were generated by three high energy techniques in combination with neon matrix isolation at 4 K and studied by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The generation methods included pulsed laser vaporization of the metal alloys, photoionization at 16.8 eV during matrix deposition, and x-irradiation at 80 keV of the matrix sample following deposition. Hyperfine interactions were resolved for all of the above nuclei and were compared with calculated isotropic and dipolar components of the A tensor. The yttrium 5s character observed in YAlf was significantly larger than that in YB+ based upon the observed nuclear hyperfine interactions. The calculated electronic structure properties showed agreement with this trend in the observed Aiso parameters. In addition, qualitative descriptions of the bonding properties are also presented which are consistent with the magnetic parameters obtained from the ESR measurements. The magnetic parameters for Y ?B+ in neon at 4 K are gl =1.959(1), A, (Y) =33.6(4) MHz, and AL (11B) =65.9(4) MHz. For YAl+, g, =1.942(1),A, =142(l) MHz, andA, (Al)=73(1) MHz

Collected Papers in Structural Mechanics Honoring Dr. James H. Starnes, Jr.

This special publication contains a collection of structural mechanics papers honoring Dr. James H. Starnes, Jr. presented at the 46th AIAA/ASME/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and Materials Conference held in Austin, Texas, April 18-21, 2005. Contributors to this publication represent a small number of those influenced by Dr. Starnes' technical leadership, his technical prowess and diversity, and his technical breath and depth in engineering mechanics. These papers cover some of the research areas Dr. Starnes investigated, which included buckling, postbuckling, and collapse of structures; composite structural mechanics, residual strength and damage tolerance of metallic and composite structures; and aircraft structural design, certification and verification. He actively pursued technical understanding and clarity, championed technical excellence, and modeled humility and perseverance

Inverting Ray-Knight identity

We provide a short proof of the Ray-Knight second generalized Theorem, using a martingale which can be seen (on the positive quadrant) as the Radon-Nikodym derivative of the reversed vertex-reinforced jump process measure with respect to the Markov jump process with the same conductances. Next we show that a variant of this process provides an inversion of that Ray-Knight identity. We give a similar result for the Ray-Knight first generalized Theorem.Comment: 18 page

Which Market Entry and Product Line Strategies Ought Organisations to Adopt for Emerging Economies?

Emerging economies offer tremendous potential for organisations seeking to expand globally and to attain the associated rewards. However, organisations differ in their entrepreneurial tendencies to enter new markets and to introduce new products in emerging economies. Organisations also differ in their abilities to manage their development programs, that is, their execution of different types of projects that lead to success in emerging markets. Finally, organisations differ in which overall measures of program performance are consistent with their strategic objectives. This study provides a literature foundation and conceptual framework designed to understand which market entry and product line strategies and performance measures are appropriate for organisations pursuing strategic success in emerging markets. This study sets forward grounded propositions that different strategic types will vary in their market entry and product line strategies, in the project composition of their development programs, and in the orientations of performance measures used to evaluate their development programs. Prospectors, according to type, will enter emerging economies by introducing new product lines to new customer types, and by emphasizing new-to-the-world products. They will evaluate their development programs with Growth-oriented performance measures. Defenders will more typically occupy secure niches within emerging economies by emphasizing product improvement and cost reduction projects for current types of customers. They will evaluate their development programs with Efficiency-oriented performance measures. Analyzers will either target new customer types with proven products, or serve an existing market niche with new product lines. They will evaluate their development program performance with Strategy-oriented measures

Impact of Mental Health Comorbidities on Health Care Utilization and Expenditure in a Large US Managed Care Adult Population with ADHD

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the health resource use (HRU) and expenditure of adult patients with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) subsequently diagnosed with one or more mental health (MH) comorbidities.MethodsUsing Kaiser Permanente Southern California electronic medical records (January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2009), we identified adults with at least one ADHD diagnosis and at least two subsequent prescriptions fills for ADHD medication. The date of first MH comorbidity diagnosis after the index ADHD diagnosis was defined as the index transition date. Continuous eligibility 12 months before and after the index transition date was required. For patients with multiple transitions (≥2), the post-transition period reflected the 12 months after the second transition. HRU for all-cause inpatient, outpatient, emergency department, behavioral therapy, overall prescription fill counts, and ADHD-specific prescription fill counts and mean patient expenditure (2010 US $) were estimated. Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate differences in HRU and expenditure between the pre- and post-transition periods, respectively.ResultsOf the 3809 patients with ADHD identified, 989 (26$1822 ± $306 and$4432 ± $301 (both P < 0.0001) in the single and multiple transition cohorts, respectively.ConclusionsTwenty-six percent of patients with ADHD transitioned to MH comorbid diagnoses. Increased HRU and expenditure were associated with MH transitions. Identifying of patients with ADHD at risk for MH comorbidities may help to improve their outcomes